In Montana, top causes of wildfires change throughout the course of the season: escaped debris and agricultural burns in the spring, escaped or unattended campfires in the summer, and sparks from dragging trailer chains, lawn mowers, chainsaws, or field machinery in the late summer and early fall when grasses are cured and ripe for ignition. […]

The warm weather in Gallatin County seems to be here to stay, meaning it’s time to dust off those bikes and ride to work, hit some trails, or cruise the town for some fresh air on wheels. In Gallatin County and throughout the state of Montana bikes are considered legal vehicles, which means that cyclists […]

Halloween Health & Safety Tips Halloween is right around the corner, and there’s no denying that it’s a favored holiday among the little ones in Gallatin County. Whether you’re a goblin or ghoul, vampire or witch, we want you and your family to have a happy and safe Halloween. Check out these tips for a […]

By Environmental Health Services Bats & Rabies As we approach Halloween, it’s hard not to think about BATS! Although they can be difficult to spot, since they come out after dark, bats do thrive here in Gallatin County. But is there any need to worry about rabies? Actually, it’s a fact that most bats don’t […]

Where did the summer go? In Gallatin County, summer always seems to whiz by, and fall is here before we know it. Most kids in the area started school just before or after Labor Day, and it’s already the season of school buses, pencil sharpeners, and homework! As kids get older, many start to walk […]

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is sending an important message to water enthusiasts: play it safe while out enjoying fun in the water this summer. To help reinforce this message, DPHHS recently sent educational materials to all Montana elementary schools to help children learn more about water-related illness and injuries. […]

By The Gallatin City County Health Department’s Environmental Health Program Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an infectious disease characterized by flu-like symptoms that can progress rapidly to potentially life-threatening breathing problems. Several types of hantaviruses can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and they are carried by several types of rodents, particularly the […]

By Environmental Health Fomites: Here, There, and Everywhere Have you ever thought how germs spread around your home and within your community? The answer is through fomites. Fomites lurk among us as everyday objects. These non-living objects can harbor germs and serve in the transfer of bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing microbes to yourself, […]

By The Gallatin City-County Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program PANAMA CITY, FL—Following a week long vacation in Florida, local sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea announced it had an awesome time during this year’s spring break. “Oh man, PCB was the best—I was at a new party practically every night and met a ton of cool people,” […]

It’s that holiday time of the year, which sometimes involves that holiday cheer…meaning alcohol. There are holiday parties, family get-togethers, and New Year’s Eve bashes to top things off. It’s probably for this reason that the President of the United States has declared that December is “National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.” That means that the […]